A Great Responsibility by R. A. Underwood

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jun 20, 1912

A Great Responsibility

By R. A. Underwood

R. A. UNDERWOOD

“And the things that thou hast heard of me by many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” 2 Tim. 2:2.

EVERY minister and church officer should be a recruiting officer in the Lord’s army. Latent talent is unused in the church, and sometimes entirely lost to the Lord’s cause, because no one has properly encouraged some young person to engage in special labor in the cause of Christ.

It is expected that a conference president shall be on the lookout to encourage young people to prepare for the ministry or some other line of work.

The conference employs a field agent to enlist missionary canvassers and to help them in their work, but this is not enough; the responsibility rests upon all who have heard the message of hope to commit the same as far as possible to faithful men who shall be able to teach others also.

I shall ever remember the time—about forty years ago—when Elder James White put his hand upon my shoulder and said: “Brother Underwood, God has been waiting for the popular ministry to accept and carry this message to the world; but he will wait no longer. He is now calling teachers, students, mechanics, and farmers to enter his ministry. Come, Brother Underwood, help us to carry the message.” I had never up to this time thought of entering the ministry. Other brethren emphasized the suggestion of Elder White, until about two years later I was pressed into service. Had it not been for the urgent efforts of others, I should never have left the farm to enter the ministry, and later to enter Battle Creek College.

If there is one service that brings more joy to the soul than another, it is the knowledge that one has helped to enlist “faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” in giving the saving message to a dying world. This is a work not entirely confined to the ministry or conference officers.

It was the wise counsel of Jethro that led Moses to engage in active service an army of “able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness,” to be co-workers with him. Ex. 18:19-24.

Younger men must be trained to carry the burdens borne by those who have grown gray in the service of the cause; and it is a great mistake for older men to feel that the work will not be carried forward when they take a less active part in the battle. However, it is not the easiest task to drop the heavy burdens one has carried; but it helps to test one’s faith in the great Leader of Israel—the Holy Spirit.

King David began the work of building the temple, but he was asked to turn it over to Solomon. David could only say, “Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the Lord God.” 1 Chron. 29:1.

The person who loses his interest in the work because some one else is chosen to take the responsibility he has carried, shows that his faith was more in himself than in the work he was doing for God. David was no less interested in the palace of God after he was released from the responsibility of its building than he was before.

Ananias hesitated and argued the case when commanded of God to go and lay his hands on Saul. He felt that it was a risky undertaking to recognize the young man who had been a persecutor. “But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.” Acts 9:10-15. This was a test of Ananias’s faith in the gospel message and in the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

It is worthy of notice that God did not lay upon young Saul the care of all the churches at this time, but he laid upon the young man the burden of raising up churches, and this Paul did for many years. The care of the churches came after the apostle had raised up many churches, and his experience had fitted him for this added responsibility.

There are always some who have a burden to preach whom the brethren have little faith will make a success. The best way to settle such cases is to tell them to go and raise up good churches, and the conference will recognize their labor. However, after a fair trial, if they are not able to comply with the test of a call to the ministry, they should be advised to do something in which they have ability to succeed. Every man entering the ministry should be put to the test of 2 Tim. 2:15; 1 Cor. 9:2.

The most of those called to the ministry may have some burden in that direction, yet be so timid and fearful that unless some one encourages them, they will never enter the work.

There is a great demand for fathers and mothers in Israel to-day who will inspire the young to give themselves to the work of God, and then help them succeed. This will require helpful counsel, loving correction, and words of encouragement.

There are those standing at the parting of the way who, like Saul, are praying, and need an Ananias to give them a word of encouragement. Shall we be the messenger of God to bring words of courage and to lead to active service in the cause of Christ those who may be helped?

Mesopotamia, Ohio.